AA Teccie (Paul)

Hi Samantha (“Sam”?) The study guide is as much, if not more, about the tree than ‘tree surgery’, although there is a section on that. Once completed, it also offers an opportunity to undertake the associated exam and gain a well recognised craft-level qualification / certification which may aid employment opportunities. lots of other good suggests on here too (as always...an invaluable industry resource.) Good luck with everything and enjoy your time in the industry. KR Paul

Hi there, it's worth considering the ISA Certified Arborist study guide. It's expensive (nigh £80) but well structured and broad spectrum...albeit some chapters are American practice based but the principles generally apply equally. Good luck n "happy reading Paul

Equally sure you'll be fine with practical experience AND level 4 qual. The PTI is somewhat unorthodox as a training course in that it includes 'some' learning opportunity but us essentially a revision / recap course + assessment, i.e. an opportunity to demonstrate competence in deatiled tree inspections. As others have said there are other courses which are 'training' focused which will help. Ge up on your fungi, referencing the AA guide if poss (as that was the focus for the original questions)...and of course the 'course' is Lantra accredited (not AA.) Cheers, n "good luck" Paul

From HSE website / 'Management H&S Regs.' (and remember 'employees' also includes self-employed staff working under your direction and instruction.) assessments of the risks to employees, contractors, customers, partners, and any other people who could be affected by your activities - and record the significant findings in writing (if you employ five or more people). Any risk assessment must be ‘suitable and sufficient'

5 or more staff. But don't forget that in many instances, particularly if something goes wrong and yiur insurer is involved, a written RA may be very useful (the essence of which is to focus on the primary site/task hazards and precautions (controls), and ensure all on site are aware of them ...this can be simply noted on a pad/tablet.) Cheers Paul

Here, here. Congrats David, nice to get some well deserved recognition for your in depth knowledge and contributions to the industry and the forum..."thank you." Paul

The 'First Schedule', combined with the planning portal guidance, would suggest only trees of the species listed are protected...would it not. Further, anything which has grown on the site since 1956, i.e. after the Order was made (I think it states 1955,) would not be protected. I would expect the TO / Planning Officer should clarify these points if they were presented in writing, i.e. email. Good luck.. Paul

As ‘Swinney’ has advised, the TPO overrides the CA and hence the “2 year” time period has now lapsed, in effect. Frustrating but how the legislation works. Regards Paul

As far as i am aware, if the TPO has been formally 'served', and the trees are still present, they are now protected regardless of the CA 6 week expiry. Removal risks prosecution, both whoever commissions the works and whoever undertakes it. Suggest making an application and going to 'appeal' if/when refused. Regards Paul

Can become a member for £67 (can pay monthly DD.) TBH to get the full suite of RA documents you need to attend the 1-day RA workshop, usually about £150+VAT for a member, n hopefully will be back available soon. Regards Paul

...and if you can exclude oxygen ('encapsulation') then decay may not develop but dysfunction will have occurred due to cell damage. Have a read of 'The CODIT Principle' (ISA publication) Cheers Paul

When working 'for you' they sound more akin to 'Labour-only' subcontractors...but others may think differently as it's often something of a grey area between Labour only and bona fide but presume you invoice the job so swaying towards labour only. Paul

Really? If an incident were to happen from said activities and you were not trained to use a saw from a bucket/mewp, it would not be a problem? Perhaps a tad pedantic but you would need to be 'trained' but not necessarily qualified, i.e. chainsaw from a MEWP (IF you have chainsaw rope n harness.) The 'training', whihc would be a good idea, could be with someone 'competent' in the business but suggest it is structured and recorded. Hope this makes sense. Regards, Paul

Hi Khriss, to date HSE have only conceded this point referring to the 'aerial chainsaw ticket' not the ground based one . Further, and generally, use of the top-handled saw from a MEWP is often frowned upon but provided you have the qualification, and use it 'two-handed' only it is acceptable (a bit greyer here.) Regards, Paul

Hi Jamie and Khriss, thanks for your posts. In a nutshell "no", simplistically get someone who is MEWP trained / qualified to do the work (said acknowledging it's not that simple in reality BUT HSE would likely take the view point it was.) BTW you do not need, or at least "shouldn't need", the chainsaw from a MEWP qual if you're chainsaw in a tree qualified...you just need a 'MEWP ticket' plus familiarization training with the MEWP selected. Regards, Paul

ALL (if I may) - please be aware that whilst this thread has focused on the climbing aspect of working at height (in trees) compliance with the W@H Regs., and the associated industry ICoP, involves planning and decision making following the 'hierarchy principles' and you must have a robust procedure for this which justifies, for instance, "why" a MEWP is not used for the job (the Table on p.26 of the ICoP is very useful / informative here.) HSE, and previous prosecutions / accident investigations, have clearly adopted a "benefit of hindsight" approach were a climber has fallen out of a tree and been injured, where the tree was MEWP accessible, asking "why" the MEWP wasn't used and that's why you need to have a robust decision making procedure in place. Thanks for reading.. Paul PS the ICoP is viewable here , and can be downloaded as a pdf. file (30mb) Cookies check EDITION.PAGESUITE-PROFESSIONAL.CO.UK Guidance Notes - Industry Code of Practice for Arboriculture – Tree Work at Height ...and can now be purchased hard copy - see Arboricultural Association - Book Shop WWW.TREES.ORG.UK A source of publications, guidance notes and leaflets for arboriculturists. Competitively priced available to members...

Sorry 'Swinny' I missed your post last night. In answer to your question, under the current ICoP, the default position is a primary system + a back-up essentially at all times unless it is not practicable to maintain it for specific, short-duration tasks. (an example of which may be during change-overs on ascent.) The associated Technical Guide 1 - Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue (TG1) should be published very soon and that will aid interpretation of the ICoP and cite practical examples etc. to aid application for climbers. Regards, Paul

Hi Jamie, the ICoP only requires the 'primary system' to provide an uninterrupted descent to ground, the 'back-up' (2nd system) is a fail-to-safe to prevent a fall in the event the primary system fails. I can't comment on City & Guilds NPTCs interpretation / application of the ICoP but perhaps it precedes its publication (and if their requirement exceeds its recommendations, and I can see the benefits of such as in the event of failure of the primary system if the back-up can allow for a descent to ground you've effectively got 2 primary systems...AKA , then no bad thing perhaps.) Regards, Paul PS I believe Lantra are reviewing their training in light of the ICoP so it will be interesting to see their...application.

To clarify "The Regs", in practice the ICoP, do not require the "backup system", ie the lanyard as you refer, to be capable of getting you to ground but stopping you falling. If you chose to use a system that allows you to get to ground, which obviously has benefits, that is your choice/decision given the circumstances and personal preferences. An interpretation/expectation if not, is that the aerial rescue provision will get you to ground. Just wanted to clarify that point. Regards Paul

Hi Stuart, we are currently working with Treelife to make the ISA CA course an e-learning opportunity so "watch this space." In terms of its value/recognition in NZ, whilst I'm sure it will aid 'employability' I'm not sure of its value, if at all, for obtaining a Visa as it's not a formal qualification (its a certification) and hence wouldn't be registered on their qualifications database and wouldn't get points for it. To the OP - this is my understanding of the situation but please enquire with NZ Visa office to clarify. Regards Paul

Try to get the hospital estate manager to speak to the property owner (to "notify them") so they don't give you any grief on the day.

My impression of NZ is that their practical skills are contained within NZ academic 'arb' qualifications and when they come to work in the UK they have to do the NPTCs etc. to make them employable within the UK / HSE system. Hence, n really sorry about this, but with the absence of a supporting UK academic qualification you might find your NPTCs are of minimal value and don't have an equivalent for visa etc. purposes but I'm sure NZ employers would value / recognise UK NPTCs...but not sure that really helps. Hopefully someone who can be more help will come along very soon. Good luck with everything. Cheers Paul

Hi Jack, the 'Professional Tree Surveying' course to which you refer is probably the Lantra - Professional Tree Inspection course ('PTI') and this is increasingly becoming a 'must have,' or at least a very desirable 'should have', to access the tree inspection / tree surveying industry / role. Interesting that you are doing a 'forestry' management degree but looking to enter 'arb'...do the college/Uni offer an 'arb' (or 'Urban Forestry') option you could transfer to maybe or do they by any chance have an arrangement with Myerscough that you could transfer there as they offer 'arb' degrees. Other than that there are a range of short courses for fungi, P&D etc. that would be useful be presume you will cover this in your degree course anyway. Good luck with everything. Regards, Paul

Hi Paul, apologies I missed your further posts. The technical guide TG1 is in the process of being revised in light of the recent industry consultation and hence we await the final version which will undoubtedly have further detail about back up systems and SRT/SRWP etc. Thereafter it is expected to form the basis of updated training from Lantra and colleges etc. Regards Paul PS did you see the published SRT research project by Ben Rose and Robert Knott available on the website at www.trees.org.uk which will doubtless also feed into training.

Hi, there are many independent training providers, and assessors, available. As a start point try here Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-fall Techniques | Lantra Awards WWW.LANTRA.CO.UK This course will provide all the information and demonstrate the practical skills required for those undertaking a regulated... and I'm sure City & Guilds / NPTC have an equivalent on their website (for assessors.) Regards, Paul